CynLr, IISc Join Hands to Bring Neuroscience into Robotics

Bengaluru-based robotics and AI company CynLr has partnered with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to bridge neuroscience and robotics in a bid to build machines that can perceive and adapt to the real world with human-like flexibility.

The collaboration, titled Visual Neuroscience for Cybernetics, will focus on translating how the brain processes depth, motion and object continuity into robotic perception systems. 

Unlike conventional robots that rely heavily on preprogrammed routines or massive training data, the project aims to create systems that can comprehend and respond to complex, unpredictable environments in real time.

“This collaboration is designed to combine real-world complexity with robotic perception from first principles. We are here to build machines that do not just see but comprehend,” said Gokul NA, founder of CynLr.

IISc’s Vision Lab, led by professor SP Arun at the Centre for Neuroscience, will drive the neuroscience research component. “At our lab, we study how the brain encodes visual information through neural recordings in primates as well as cognitive neuroscience in humans. We are excited to partner with CynLr to bring these insights into robotics,” Arun said.

The initiative will support doctoral scholars and early career researchers through sponsored PhD projects, with the possibility of selective recruitment into CynLr’s advanced research programs. The company will also provide real-world problem statements and technical infrastructure drawn from its robotic stack.

By tapping into neuroscience, CynLr hopes to lay the groundwork for what it calls ‘Universal Factories’—micro factories capable of switching between products without needing dedicated machines. This, the company argues, could help overcome long-standing automation challenges in manufacturing, such as handling screws, packaging or assembling components.

CynLr has indicated openness to working with other startups and academic institutions in fields such as imaging sensors, compute platforms and grasping research.